Who’s got next? Caletti Framebuilding Summit
Article written by and photos taken by Chris Blandford and posted on The Radavist. You can find the full article here.
“Earlier this fall, Caletti Cycles sent out an invitation: “Attention Framebuilders.” After a couple of years’ consideration, John had decided to get a small group of young builders together for a framebuilding “summit.” He proposed a few days at his shop during which the group would talk about bikes and business. They’d even build a frame together as a way to share fabrication techniques, and they’d spend some time riding the roads and trails of Santa Cruz.
John has reached the point in his career where paying it forward is (nearly) as important as getting paid. For this first summit, John deliberately chose participants who are making–or attempting to make–a living by building bikes. He chose builders with solid experience but still riding the kicker of the learning curve, hoping a small nudge might propel them over that hump towards a true, long-lasting career in framebuilding…
The next three days at Caletti were filled with lessons and laughter. After the natural jitters of day one, our group settled into a groove together. We worked at a deliberate pace, and took long breaks to ride into Santa Cruz for coffees and lunches…
B was nominated to weld the notoriously difficult bottom bracket junction. (She obliged and gladly put the boys to shame.)…
Will said, “As a frame builder, I often find myself working alone, lost in my thoughts. This week served as a powerful reminder to break free, explore different perspectives, and connect with diverse people and places. Each of us, whether a newbie or a veteran, brings something valuable to the table, enriching each other’s craft.”
B concurred. “Not only did John bring his expertise to the table, but Nick, Will, Chris, Zach and myself, all had expertise that we were able to share with each other.”
And finally, Nick concluded, “I’m planning to go home and continue to reassess things so I can keep doing what I really love to do: make bikes that people love to ride.”
Both frames collaboratively built during the summit will be available on Caletti’s website. The proceeds will go toward scholarships for the next builder summit.
